W e, the members of the Transportation Board, the Commissioner and the employees of the Georgia Department of Transportation, are committed to a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation system for all users . Through dedicated teamwork and responsible transportation leadership, we will support economic development, environmental sensitivity and an improved quality of life for all. CONTENTS From the Commissioner 3 The Summer of ' 96 4 Planning and Programmi ng 10 Preconstruction 12 Construction 14 Operations 16 Administration 1 8 Spec al Staff 2 0 D str ct One 22 D st r ct Two 2 4 D str ct Three 2 6 D str ct Four 28 D str ct Five 30 D str ct Six 3 2 D str ct Seven 3 4 D str ct Map 36 The Organization 38 Financials 40-41 History of the Georgia DOT 4 2 Major Construction Projects 44 State Transportation Board 48 Commissioner Wayne Shackenord From the Commissioner ~---- -... - - - '' ' ' - G OLD-MEDAL PERFORMANCES. Achievements of Olympic proportions. Team DOT carries the torch. As we reflect on the accomplishments of the past two years, the analogies are obvious. And why shouldn't they be? Transportation was one of the key elements in Atlanta's victorious bid for the Games. And other than the facilities built specifically for competition during the 1996 Olympic Games, the most critical legacies of the Olympics were those for which the Georgia DOT was responsible. We've captured a glimpse of the Summer Games here; yet it is important to remember that the Olympics were the culmination of one dream, and the beginning of anoth er. The Georgia DOT is steadily moving forward in our goal to meet the transportation demands of all Georgians for the 21st century and beyond. Partnered with our state's citizens and Georgia's business and political leadership, the DOT w ill provide the path to greater accessibility and enhanced mobility. A famous advertising campaign expressed, "There is no finish line." I am struck with the thought that although the Olympic finish line and all the achievements over the past two years are behind us, our futu re is just beginning. - I'' ' V...t ..... ... ~I Fireworks during the Olympic Opening Ceremonies light up the nighttime sky. The Summer of '96 p ERHAPS LIKE NO OTHER T he transportation implications EVENT in the world, the Olympic involved in h osting the Olympics Games are a tribute to teamwork. were phenomenal. Couple the From bidding to host the Games, fact that no other Olympic Games to preparing for and staging the ever had as many venues located Games, to actually competing in in a downtown business district as them, teamwork is evident at the Atlanta Games did with the every level. fact that three m illion athletes, That same spirit of teamwork w hich landed the Olympics for Atlanta, and which propelled athletes to go fo r the gold during competition, was the cornerstone of the Georgia Department of Tran sportation's commitment to h elping make the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games the best Olympics yet. The Georgia DOT commitment to the O lympics was apparent fro m the very beginning of Atlanta's journey to the Games. Serving in an advisory capacity to the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) during both the national and international host-city bidding stages, the Georgia DOT and local O lympic planners knew that th e host-city designation could hinge on the city's overall transportation strategy. After Atlanta was awarded the 1996 Olympic Games in September 1990, it was w idely reported nationally and internationally that one of Atlanta's aces was its excel- members of the press and spectators were expected and the formula for a potential transportation nightmare became obvious. To avoid that, ACOG formed in 1992 the Olympic Transportation Support Group (OTSG) and commissioned the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Atlanta area's regional planning organization, to perform an Olympic Transportation Study. The OTSG, which was made up of representatives from a number of local agencies and jurisdictions, was charged with developing the Olympic Transportation Plan. T he Olympic Transportation Plan was the system through which people were transported not only in and out of venues, but from one venue site to another. The plan entailed transportation modes including rapid railI busesI taxis, automobiles and pedestrian access in addition to outlining street closures, available parking and areas of restricted or no access. lent transportation system. For th e Georgia DOT and Atlanta Olympic officials, that came as no surpnse. Georgia's Commissioner of Transportation, Wayne Shackelford, was co-chairman of the OTSG. In addition to the contributions made by the Georgia DOT to the Olympic Transportation Plan was a special group of Olympic-related transportation projects that were in the DOT's construction work program. The Georgia DOT programmed and provided funding for over 100 Olympic Transportation Projects throughout the state of Georgia with a total estimated construction cost of approximately $750 million. Over $450 million of this construction was in the Atlanta metropolitan area, where the majority of the venues were located. These projects were not built just for the Olympics. Every project had a documented need and purpose and served to meet genuine local or state transportation needs. In some cases, however, project sched ules were adjusted for longer-range projects in order to have the projects ready for the Olympic Games. The progress of the Olympic Transportation Projects through the planning and design phases was monitored by a special Georgia DOT committee to ensure that completion schedules were met. The Olympic Transportation Projects were grouped into five categories : (1) Venue Related- These projects allowed direct access to the venues themselves and were vital to the transportation of both spectators and the "O lympic Family" (athletes, coaches, judges, corporate sponsors and foreign dignitaries among others). Among the Venue-related Olympic Transportation Projects were: The International Boulevard Viaduct Extension to Techwood Drive Allowed for greatly improved access to the Georgia D ome, the Georgia World Congress Center and the Omni arena. In addition to improving vehicular access, a pedestrian bridge connecting the Omni MARTA rapid rail station with the pedestrian plaza of the World Congress Center provided safe, convenient pedestrian access. The DOT's Olympic efforts included a wide variety of key infrastructure improvements and a pivotal role in the Olympic Transportation Plan. The Summer of '96 "'~ .. -~ - - - - -................